- What is the distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees? Give an example of each.
The distinction that separates owners from employees is the overall wealth. Owners create their wealth in various aspects and being a part of the owning class comes from maintaining large wealth, such as investments, including providing job opportunities for employees. Therefore those areas must be flourishing through others in order to see financial growth. However, employees are financially stable through the hours or salaries they work for, not necessarily the other way around. Employees receive payment from owners, which is clearly the difference, both parties need each other in a sense but one party is receiving less income based on dynamics and classes, employees.
- How do you understand the quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28? What is it saying about labor?
Smith referenced that there are many aspects that go into a flourishing business and how the labor is executed through various processes. Labor only comes from employees, therefore, if it wasn’t for employees’ constant contribution, there wouldn’t be much wealth for the higher class. The money that goes towards these contributions is less valued compared to profits, whereas you would think the individuals doing the hard work are receiving what they deserve, however this is not the case.
- What are your thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is NOT an identity?
Class can be considered as an identity even though it shouldn’t be. Class does not determine any status thus to time and changes, which is why categorized class shouldnt be recognized as an overall representation of an individual. Although, circumstances, along with other factors are relative to class, I truthfully believe class does not identify with identity.
- How do you understand the argument Reading 4.4. makes when stating that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency”? What is this close form of dependency, and can you think of an example?
This close form of dependency when stating class structures are built around human beings needing one another regardless of the agenda to maintain their personal lifestyle. For example, Target is a huge corporation with a large number of employees. An individual may have bills, kids, or expenses to pay for that’s why those employees maintain their job, just as a corporation needs workers for a functioning company. Both are trying to achieve a goal of some sort, even though class structures are separated, both have the same agenda in terms of needing one another.
